Printing-press.



No. 640,808. Pa'ented Jan.v 9, |900.

' G. W. PORTER.

PRINTING PRESS.

kApplication led May 17. 1899.)

(No Model.)

www" s YH: Nomus PETERS co4. PNoYo-Lrmo. WASHINGTON. nv c.

'Umano STATES PATENT Ormea. l

GEORGE W. PORTER, OF MUSOATINE, IOVA.

PRINTiNG-PRESS.

SIE-ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,808, dated January 9, 1900. Application filed May 17, 1899. Serial No. 717,201. (No model.)

To'wZ whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. PORTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at lWIuscatine, in the county of Muscatine and State sions from job, news, and book type-forms in galleys or locked forms, although it may be used for printing purposes generally; and the primary object in view is to provide a simple construction in which the parts are arranged to enable proofs to be obtained with ease and celerity.

A further object is to provide a platenoperatin g mechanism,which includes a powerful leverage appliance arranged to be easily operated by the simple pull of a hand-lever by the pressman, and with this leverage appliance is associated a device for regulating the pressure exerted by the platen upon the blanket and type-form.

Vth these ends in View the invention consists in the novel combination of elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, I have illustrated a preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a printing-press constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation taken longitudinally through the press. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the knuckle-lever devices for exerting pressure upon the platen. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the type-bed having the hinged frisket and removed from the press.

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

The framework 10 of my improved printing-press is` supported at a proper height above the floor by the legs 11, and projecting upwardly from the sides of this frame are the standards 12. These standards are disposed parallel to each other at the middle of l[he frame, and they are constructed to form the vertical slots or guideways 13. The upper ends of the standards are joined together by a bridge-beam 14, which may be of any preferred construction, and which serves to strongly brace the standards 12 to which it is united. Y

The sides of the frame 10 are fashioned to accommodate the horizontal steel guideways 15, which are fastened by bolts to the frame 10 and extend out over and are supported by brackets 16, making a continuous'track for the horizontally-slidable type-bed. These tracks, as well as the horizontal rail 17, are adjustable vertically by the use of set-screws 17, fastened to the frame under each end of guideways 15 and the rail 17. The frame 10 is furthermore provided with a horizontal rail 17, which is suitably fixed to said frame and is arranged in a position between and parallel to the brackets 16, and the upper face of this middle rail 17 is provided with a longitudinal channel or groove 18.

19 designatesthe slidable type-bed, which has its edges fitted in the guideways 15 of the frame and is adapted to slide horizontally therein, and this type-bed is arranged to be withdrawn from the guideways of the framev for the purpose of resting upon the brackets 16 and the rail 17, whereby said type-bed may be supported on the frame at one side of the path of the vertically-reciprocating platen. The type-bed when withdrawn from the path of the platen rests upon the brackets 16, and to prevent said type-bed from having edgewise displacement on the brackets and with relation to the guideways 15 of the frame I employ a flange 20, which is fixed on the bottom of the bed in a position to enter the groove 18 of the rail 17. This flange serves to position the type-bed for proper entrance to the guideways of the frame when adjusting the bed below the platen, and the rail 17 is thus adapted to coact with theguideways l5 in directing the horizontal travel of the type-bedwith relation to the path of the platen.

The platen 2l is arranged between the standards 12 to reciprocate vertically within the press-frame, and said platen is provided with fast or integral guide-lugs 22, which are fitted snugly to the guideways 13 of the standards 12, soas to slide freely therein. The

IOO

platen is supported normally in a horizontal plane above the path of the type-bed and the frisket thereon by the action of strong coiled springs `23, which are fitted in the lower parts of the slotted standards l2, so as to engage with the guide-lugs 22 of the platen. The lower ends of these lifting-springs are seated y upon the bottoms of the guideways in the standards,while the upper ends of said springs act against the guide-lugs 22 for the purpose of lifting the platen to a position above the risket and blanket on the slidable type-bed, and said frisket is connected by hinge-joints with the typebed, so as to travel therewith and to be capable of adjustment relatively to the type-bed for the purpose of permitting ready access to be obtained to the bed for placing or removing the form. The preferred means which I employ for the attachment of the frisket to lthe bed consists of hinge-plates 25, which are fastened to the frisket at two of the corners thereof, and these hinge-plates are connected by horizontal pintles 25l to lugs 26, which are jfast or integral with the type-bed.

As is usual in the art, the type-bed should be equipped with means for clamping the columns of@ type or the type-forni to the bed, andin connection with the bed and the frisket the usual blanket is employed, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The reciprocating platen 2l is or may be cast in a single piece of metal, and on its upper face said platen has a central thrust-block 27, in the upper face of which is a recess 28, forming a seat for one end of one member of a knuckle-lever mechanism adapted to exert pressure upon the platen.

The bridge-beam la of the, press-frame is provided at its middle with a guide-clip 29, which may be fixed to the bridge-beam in any suitable Way, and to this guide-clip is slidably fitted the upper thrust-block 30, which is disposed in the same vertical plane with the thrust-block 27, that is fast with the reciprocating platen. This upper thrustblock 30 is designed to be adjusted on the guide-clip and the bridge-beam With relation to one member of the knuckle-levers, and in its lower face said upper thrust-block has a recess 3l, forming a seat for the other member of the knuckle-lever mechanism. It will thus be seen that the platen is provided with a fast thrust-block, which is adapted to partake of the vertical travel of said platen under the influence of the knuckle-lever mechanism,while the other thrust-block is mounted on the ixed part of the frame for adjustment relatively to the thrust-block on the platen. This adjust-able thrust-block is confined slidably in place for proper engagement with the guide-clip, and with the adjustable thrustblock is associated a vertical adjusting-screw 46, which works in a nut or threaded bearing 47, provided on the bridge-beam le. This adj listing-screw has a swivel connection with and lower the latter and adapt it to slide on the guide-clip.

The knuckle-lever mechanism consists of two members 32 33, which are tted, respectively, t0 the seats of the thrust-blocks and are seated one against the other, and with the knuckle-levers is combined a hand-operated lever by which the knuckle-levers may be brought into alinement substantially with each other for the purpose of imparting a quick travel to the platen and of exerting powerful pressure thereon by the simple pull of the hand-lever. The member 32 of the knuckle-lever has one end thereof formed to provide an angular arm 34, which in turn is provided with a lateral olset 35, having the seat 36. The extremity of the lever-arm 32 is rounded at 3?' to lit in the seat 3l of the upper thrust-block 30, and the opposite end ci' this lever member 32 is provided with the longitudinal slot 38, in which is pivoted an arm of the hand-lever al. The other member 33 of the knuckle-lever mechanism is a straight bar having rounded ends 39, one of which is fitted in the seat 28 of the lower thrust-block, While the other end occupies the 'seat 36 near the offset end of the lever member 32. The lever member 33 is slotted at 40 for a part of its length to enable the arm el of the lever 4l to pass therethrough, and this arm lla enters the slot 38 of the lever member 32, thereby adapting the leverarm to be pivoted at 4l in the slotted end of the lever member 32.

The operating-lever 4l is arranged to travel in a horizontal path by direct pull of the operator thereon, and at one end said lever is provided with a head 42, whichiis fitted between lugs 43 on a depending arm la of the brid ge-beam 14, the lever-head being confined in place between the lugs by a vertical pivetai bolt 45. The arm 4l is in the same vertical plane as the members of the toggle-joint, and this arm is litted kloosely in a slot of the member 32. One end of the arm la is attached to a sleeve, which is fitted loosely on the horizontal lever el, so as to be free to slide and turn thereon, While the other end of the arm is pivoted in the slotted end of the toggle member 32 in a manner to turn freely on a horizontal axis. lt is thus seen that the opposite ends of the connecting-arm 41a are connected loosely to the lever 4l and to the toggle member 32, so as to compensate for the diiferences in the arcs of movement of the hand-lever and the toggle member 32, which, itis to be observed, move on the centers l2 and 37, respectively.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the two-part knuckle-lever mechanism has one member seated against a thrustblock on the platen, Vthe other member seated against the thrust-block which normally occupies a stationary position on the bridgebeam of the frame, and the two members bearV one against the other, so that the members 33 the adjustable thrust-block in order to raise may assume inclined positions to a vertical IOO line which intersects the axes of the seats in the two thrust-blocks, as clearly shown by full lines in Fig. 3. The seats between the thrustblocks and the lever members, as well as the connection between the members, thus serve to retain the parts in their proper operative positions, and said seats also insure easy and free turning of the members with minimum friction and wear on the several parts. The hand-operating lever has its arm All'nl pivoted to one lever member, and fitted slidably through the slot in the other lever member, and it assists in retaining proper alinement of the two members forming the knuckle-lever between the frame and the reciprocating platen. The upper thrust-block is adapted to be raised and lowered on the guide-clip of the press-frame by manipulating the adjusting-screw, and the distance between the two thrust-blocks, which are carried, respectively, by the frame and the platen, may be varied in order to effect variations in pressure of the platen upon the blanket and type-form.

The operation may be described as follows: The type-bed is moved horizontally to rest upon the brackets and rail of the frame, and the springs lift the'platen to a position above the horizontal plane of the frisket, which is pivoted to the type-bed. The elevation of the platen under the pressure of the springs makes the lever member 33 bear against the lever member 32 to throw the two members into the inclined positions, and draws the operating lever 41 inwardly toward the knuckle-levers. rlhe operator may now lift the frisket, and the columns of type may be placed on the bed, the form may then be inked, and paper placed thereon in the usual way, after which the frisket containing the blanket should be lowered. The bed with a type-form thereon may now be moved in a horizontal direction into the guideways of the frame, and the flange and rail between the bed and frame coact in directing the type-bed properly to the guides 15 of said frame. After the bed has been moved into position the operator moves the lever 4l to draw on the arm 4l for operating the knuckle-levers to force the platen upon the bed against the action of the lifting-springs. The outward movement of the lever 4l draws the arm 41a to move the knuckle-lever member 32 inwardly toward the other member 33, and the two lever members are thus brought in a measure into vertical alinement-that is to say, the member 33 is in a vertical position between the lower thrust-block and the angular arm of the lever member 32. After the impression has been taken from the typeform the operator moves the leverll inwardly to throw the knuckle-levers into disalined positions, and the pressure-springs then react to move the platen upwardly. The typebed and frisket may now be withdrawn and the paper removed, after which the operation may be repeated, as desired.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacricin g any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim isl. In a printing-press, the combination with a press-frame the bridge-beam of which is provided with a screw-threaded perforation, and a vertically-reciprocatin g platen, of a guide-clip fixed to said frame, a thrust-block slidably conned on the guide-clip, a regulating-screw mounted in the screw-threaded perforation of said frame and connected with the thrust-block to raise or lower the latter, another thrust-block fast with the platen, and a knuckle-lever mechanism having the two members connected together and seated respectively against the adjustable thrustblock and the thrust-block on the platen, substantially as described.

2. In a printing-press,the combination with a press-frame the bridge-beam of which is provided with a depending arm, and a verticallyreciprocating platen, of thrust-blocks connected respectively to said frame and the platen and provided with seats in their opposing faces, a knuckle-lever mechanism comprising a member having an angular arm and a seat, one end of said lever member being tted to the thrust-block on the press-frame, and another member provided with a slot and having its respective ends fitted to the seat of the first-named member and the thrust-block on the platen, a hand-lever turning on a vertical axis on the depending arm of the press-frame, and an arm passing loosely through the slotted member of the knuckle-lever and having one end pivoted to the other member of said knuckle-lever and connected at its other end loosely to the hand-lever, substantially as described.

3. In a printing-press, the combination with a press-frame and a reciprocating platen, of thrust-blocks connected respectively to said frame and platen, lever members which are seated respectively, in said thrust-blocks and fitted operatively one to the other, one of said lever members having a lateral offset and a seat therein, and the other lever member provided with a longitudinal slot and with a head to fit in said seat, a hand-lever fulcrumed on the frame to turn on a vertical axis, and an arm connected loosely with the hand-lever, pivoted to one member of the knuckle-lever and passing loosely through the slot of the other member of the knuckle-lever, for the purpose described, substantially as set forth.

4. In a printing-press, the combination with a frame the standards of which are slotted longitudinally, of a vertically-reciprocating platen provided with guide-lugs to slide in the slotted sides of said frame, springs in the bottoms of said slots acting against said platen to normally lift the latter, lever mechanism IOO for depressing theplaten, and a horizontallyslidable bed fitted to said frame, said liftingsprings tending to normally maintain the platen in a horizontal plane above the path of the bed, substantially as described.

5. In aprinting-press, the combination with a frame provided with brackets, and a vertically-reciprocating platen, of rails adj ustably secured to said brackets, a horizontally-slidable bed on said rails, and a frisket adjustably connected to said bed and adapted to travel therewith below the platen, substantially as described.

6. In a printing-press,the combination with a frame the front and rear Walls of which are each provided with brackets, and a verticallyreciprocating platen therein, of rails on said brackets, each of which is provided with perforated lugs, bolts through the lugs and the brackets, a horizontally-slidable bed guided on said rails for movement below the platen, and a irisket hinged to the bed to lie upon the same and adapted to travel with said bed below the platen, substantially as described.

27. ln a printing-press, the combination of a frame provided with guideways and with fixed brackets, a grooved rail iixed to the frame between said guideways and parallel to said brackets, a horizontally-slidable bed seated upon the brackets and having a ange adapted to travel in the grooved rail to direct the bed into the guideways ofthe frame, a re; ciprocating platen guided in said frame, springs acting against said platen to normally sustain the Same in a horizontal plane above the path of the bed, Aand mechanism for depressingtheplatemsubstantiallyas described.

In' testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE XV. PORTER. W'itnesses:

DOUGLAS V. JACKSON, A. KEMBLE. 

